This is the remake of Chapter 17. It was originally of Randall thinking his name was actually Randy, but the more I thought about it, it was incredibly stupid. So, I've changed it to him struggling to get his parents' permission to go to college. So here we are! The new and improved chapter 17!
Chapter 17: Caught Along with a Ride to College
During lunch the next day Sulley pulled out the book. When he opened it, none of them knew that Randall and Fungus were coming in the cafeteria that day. They never thought of it because normally Randall avoided the cafeteria like it was the plague. As Sulley turned to chapter seventeen, the lizard monster, with a tray in his top hands, saw the book in his rival's claws as he made his way over. He growled and shoved the tray over to his assistant. How dare they lie to him! He shoved Needleman and Smitty aside, slamming his top hands on the table. He snatched the book out of Sulley's hands.
"What are you doing reading my stuff!?" he demanded.
"Randall, look we just-" Sulley began.
"Just what, Sullivan? Looking for more stuff to laugh at me? To make me feel like I don't have worth to do? That I deserve to be the scum on everyone's foot? Is that it Sullivan? Is making my life miserable you morons all seem to enjoy? Because I don't enjoy it!"
"We were just trying to get to know you…"
"Get to know me? Get to know me!? None of you ever bothered to get to know be before! Well you don't know anything do you? There are more to me than what's in my book, Sullivan!"
"We didn't mean to upset you Randall. We just thought-" George tried to put in.
"Thought? You just thought I wouldn't mind you going through my book? Is that what you thought? Well you thought wrong!"
"Randall please just listen to us." Sulley tried to calm down the lizard monster.
"Listen? Listen!? You want me to listen? To what? Lies that you idiots spew out me? How you all mock me behind my back? Just because I'm the only reptilian monster in the factory that it gives you a right to discriminate against me? Well I'm sick of listening! My whole life I was told to listen! I'm tired of turning the other cheek, ignoring what people says about me, it doesn't help! You don't know what it's like to me!"
"We just wanted to see what you wrote, w-we didn't know it was about your life…"
"Well know you know! You don't even know the half of it Sullivan! I didn't go into great detail on how my biological prostituted me and sold me for drugs and money! That my infant years I was nothing but a sex slave! Feel better now that you know more about me? That my sexual organs are so damaged that I can't have kids? I was raped so much and so brutally that I'm permanently damaged? How do you like to know about that Sullivan? That the very same people who gave birth to me, who was supposed to love me, treated me that way!?"
"Randall I-"
"No! I'm not finished! I'm so sick of you all treating me like dirt! I had to grow up with so much crap that no one even bothered to understand! My life was hell! No worse than hell! And you all treat me like I'm some sort of joke! I'm sick of it! Don't even think you know me because you don't!"
The entire cafeteria was silent. Everyone's attention was on the members of Floor F. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. Randall was going at full throttle and he was livid. They couldn't even believe what he was saying. A few of them cast glances at each other in shock while others couldn't even peel their eyes away at the scene. No one dared stopped him or tried to interject, except the monsters on Randall's scare floor.
"You think I chose this lifestyle? Well I didn't! While you think that you're all safe in your beds when you were kids, I wasn't! I was being treated horribly! I hope you all rot!" He turned to see the entire cafeteria's attention on him. "What the hell are you all looking at!?"
He turned and threw the book at Sulley, having it hit him in the face.
"Here! Finish the damn book! I don't care anymore!"
"Well it's not like reptiles can-" Smitty started, but was his mouth was quickly covered by Needleman.
Randall screamed in anger, grabbing a tray and slamming it down on Smitty's head, causing the slug monster's head to stick out of it, then with final right hook, stormed out of the cafeteria. Slowly the cafeteria went back to their business. Fungus just stood there in shock and horror.
"I-I-I-I c-can't believe y-you did th-that…." He replied.
He tossed the trays away and went after the lizard monster, calling his name. They sat there in shock. They couldn't believe what Randall had told them. They felt horrible. Even sick to their stomachs. They all turned to Smitty, who was getting the tray off with Needleman's help.
"You idiot! You already hates us! Why did you have to open your mouth?"
"He didn't let me finish! I was going to say it's not like reptiles were as dumb as they use to be!"
"That's doesn't make it any better!"
They turned their attentions to the book, the door and back at the book.
"Should we continue?" Charlie asked.
"I don't know…" Claws replied, unsure.
"We might as well; he did give us his permission now, even though he isn't handling it well…"
Everyone nodded. It was going to be a while after Randall's outburst that the lizard monster needed to calm down and get his thoughts and feelings together. They agreed to not bother Randall at all for the rest of the day so he could calm down and not end up killing them all.
"Chapter 17: Caught along with a Ride to College.
Two years after I graduated, I had to wait to go to college, and even getting to go was a difficult task for me. You see, I graduated at the age of thirteen, and some colleges, and even my own parents, wouldn't let me go because I was too young. So in the mean time I was stuck at home doing chores or working at my mama's flower shop. I tried making myself useful around the house; doing chores, gardening, tinkering with broken items around the house and other stuff just to keep me busy.
Cheyenne had kicked off her first national tour as a rock star and she already had three albums out and was doing hundreds of concerts. Fungus had already gone off to college, so that just left me all by myself. I was currently sitting in my room, reading the History of Scaring. Since my parents didn't care for Scaring, I never got to learn anything about it, so I wanted to catch up on everything I missed. I heard a knock on my door. I quickly shut the book and hide it under my pillow. I couldn't let them know that I was learning about Scaring.
"C-c-come in," I replied, pushing my glasses up.
My door opened to reveal Cheryal.
"Hi sweetie. How are you feeling?" she asked, placing a tentacle on my forehead.
"I'm fine mom. As you know, my health has greatly improved."
"I know, just taking cautionary actions. So what does my little man have planned for today?"
I grabbed the brochures of colleges that I had received in the mail and held it up to her. Preferably the one from Monsters University. That was the college I really wanted to go to.
"Looking at colleges."
"Colleges?" She fixed her glasses as she looked at the brochure then back to me. "Sweetie, aren't you a little young to go to college? You're only fifteen. College is too grown up for you."
"But I'm so bored here! I already read every book in the library! Everyone in the family is busy, and Cheyenne and Fungus are already busy being adults. I want to continue to study." I placed all four of my hands together. "Please let me go this year! Please!"
Cheryal pulled off her glasses and started cleaning them as she thought.
"I promise I'll get good grades, I'll stay away from alcohol and drugs, I-I'll call you every night, please let me go!"
I really wanted to go. I was so tired of being stuck at home. I had no one to talk to around my age, toher than my cousins, but they didn't like me. My only friends were now adults, and I was still this kid who was still living with his parents. I wanted to do what my friends were doing. I wanted to watch movies that were PG-13, to walk down the street without my parents thinking I was going to get hurt or end up getting influenced by older kids to do bad things.
"Please?" I begged.
"I don't know Randall. We'll have to discuss this with Emilia."
I sighed in defeat but nodded my head. This was my only chance to convince them both to let me go. I had to show them I was able to take care of myself in college. She smiled and placed a kiss on my forehead, cupping my face with her tentacles.
"Love you. Dinner will be ready shortly."
"What are we having?"
"Chilly chili, moldy peanut butter sandwiches, and stale crackers."
"Sounds good. I'll start setting up the table."
She smiled at me as she stroked my fronds.
"What did we do to deserve a wonderful child as great as you?"
Not expecting an answer, she led me out of my room and down the stairs to the kitchen. As I was finishing setting up the table, I heard the door open.
"Where's my welcome home hug?" I heard Emilia call.
I exited the kitchen, running over to her. She had bent down to my level so I could hug her properly. She grinned and placed a kiss on my cheek.
"How's my little inventor doing? Invent anything new today?"
I shook my head. I couldn't help but smile. Mama was always interested in my inventions, even though mom was concerned about them.
"Aw, I was really hoping to see how you would express yourself this time."
"Maybe tomorrow," I replied.
"Well then, tomorrow I shall wait then." She stood up. "Now what are we having for dinner?"
"Chilly chili!"
"Oh sounds good. Let's go help your mother sit that food on the table so we can eat."
As we started eating, Cheryal looked at me, wanting me to get start to business then to dance around and avoid the conversation.
"Randall, don't you have something you want to tell Emilia?"
Emilia looked over at me.
"Oh, what about?"
"W-w-well um…" I started playing with my fingers, "M-Mama… I-I wanted to… to ask you… i-if I could g-go to college th-this year…"
"College? What for?"
"W-well… you see… I'm really bored here. N-n-not because o-of you g-guys! N-Never that! J-Just to continue my studies! Pl-please! I-I'll study really hard! I'll call every night! I-I won't do anything bad l-like drugs or a-alcohol! Pr-Promise!"
"Well…" she looked over at Cheryal. "What do you think Cheryal?"
"I'm not so sure. He's only fifteen. He'll be so far from home and what if he gets hurt?"
"I-I'll only be outside the city! I could t-take the bus to see you guys! O-or call you to come pick me up! Pl-please let me go! Please! I-I already have everything filled out and everything! Y-You don't even have to do the work!"
They looked at each other then looked at me.
"We'll decide this in the morning."
I looked down. Did I blow it? I really wanted to go. I didn't want to wait for another three years. Once dinner was finished, I did the dishes with help from Emilia.
"What college did you apply to?"
"Monsters University. I did several others, but I want to go to that one, since you and mom went there."
"Well, you mother didn't always go to MU."
I looked at her.
"She didn't?"
"No, she was originally a Fear Tech student."
"Wow… when did you guys meet?"
"In our sophomore year of college, when she transferred there that year."
"Why did she transfer?"
"Well, some monsters released gypsy fly-moths in the med-school and it was completely infested. So all the med-school students had to be transferred to different schools until the fly-moths were disposed of."
"Will you tell me the story of how you and mom met one day?"
She smiled and rubbed the top of my head.
"One day when you're older. Now, tell me more about what you plan on doing if you were allowed to go."
Once we were finished, I told her everything I was planning on doing, except that I was going to be a Scaring Major. My parents would never allow me to go if they knew what I was actually majoring it. So I told them that I was taking engineering. It wasn't a complete lie. I was taking engineering, but as a minor. After all, I was a science prodigy, and I had a science scholarship. I had to use it.
The next morning, I was pacing back and forth in my room. Cheryal and Emilia were going to decide today if I was permitted to go. I really hope I was. There was nothing for me to do here. I already graduated high school, my friends were busy with their own lives, my parents were working all day, basically leaving me home alone all day until one them got off, I need to do something. My fronds perked up when I heard a knock on my door. I ran over and opened the door to see Emilia. She shook her head. My fronds lowered in disappointment.
"I'm sorry Randy." She told me, then burst into a smile, "Because I won't get to see my baby boy as much as I want to now."
She picked me up.
"I'm really going?"
"Yes you are!"
"Yes!" I cheered. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
I kissed her cheek and climbed out of her arms. I was going to MU! I was going to MU! She chuckled and came in.
"Why don't get started packing and when we're finished we go school supply shopping tomorrow."
"Sounds fantastic!"
The past few days were great. Emilia was a big help for me. Cheryal helped too, but she ended up being really busy, so it was mostly me and Emilia shopping and packing for college. Before long, the day for me to move in to my college dorm was finally here. We were driving towards the campus. I looked around in excitement as my parents talked about the time they attended college. Telling me the best places to study, what to look out for, the different clubs they were in, and the spots that they used to hang out at. I made a note to visit those places.
Once we pulled it, we went through registration, took the tour and finally got my room key, which I made sure that my parents were not around for.
"Here you are, room 319. You know you're roommate is a scaring major too."
"Great! Thanks for telling me! Is he already here?"
He looked at the book of room assignments and shook his head.
"Not yet. But hopefully soon."
"Thanks!"
Once my stuff was in my room, I had trouble getting my parents to leave.
"Oh are you sure you want to stay?" Cheryal asked. "You could wait for another two, three years."
"I'm sure Mom. I'll be fine. I'll call you tonight right before I go to bed. Promise!"
"Oh," she pulled me into a hug. "I don't want to leave my little baby here all by himself."
"I won't be by myself. I have a roommate! I know me and him will become great chums! Maybe once we get close enough I can bring him home to meet you!"
"I never thought we would have an empty nest." Emilia told me, giving me a kiss. "We always thought you'd be staying with us."
"I'll visit, promise! Now go! You two have work!"
"Are you sure you don't want help setting up?" Cheryal asked.
"Yes. I want my roommate to have first pick! I don't want to come off as rude."
"Our considerate little boy." Emilia hugged me. "You be on your best behavior, or I'll send Cheryal after you."
"I promise Mama! I'll see you guys Thanksgiving!"
One last hug and kisses and they were finally out the door. Finally! I never thought they would leave. I started opening boxes, not taking anything out, due to wanting my roommate to have first pick of the beds. I hoped he wasn't those jock type monsters, I didn't want to get teased. I looked up when I heard the door open. I looked over and slithered over to him. He was a round green little monster with one big eye, wearing an MU hat.
"Hi there, I'm your roomie!" I grabbed his hand shaking it with all four of mine, "Name's Randy Boggs! Scaring Major!"
He smiled at me.
"Mike Wazowkski, Scaring Major."
"I can tell we're going to be best chums Mike. Take whatever bed you like, I wanted you to have first pick."
Suddenly a large thud startled me, causing me to go invisible. I couldn't help it. After years of teasing and bullying, I had developed a reflex of vanishing instantly. I couldn't let the others here know. They'd laugh at me. Everyone always did when it came to my camouflaging. He gasped in surprised.
"You just disappeared.
I sighed in sadness as I finally unblended myself, fixing my glasses.
"Sorry. If I do that in Scaring class, I'll be a joke." I started playing with my fingers again, upset.
Why couldn't I control it?
"No, it's totally great, you should use it!"
"Really?"
No one ever thought I should use my camouflaging. It always too distracting or show offish.
"Yea, but loose the glasses. They give it away."
"Huh,"
I never thought of it before, as I pulled my glasses off. Maybe that was why my parents could always find me so easily. As I pulled them off, my eyes tried adjusting to without seeing them, which wasn't much, for I had to squint. Everything was still blurry. I followed Mike into our room. As we unpacked, we talked about what we planned on doing, what are family were like and everything in between.
"So how old are you Randy?"
"Oh uh well um… you're… probably not going to believe it."
"Why not? It shouldn't be that bad."
"Well uh… I'm…fifteen."
He looked at me in shock.
"Fifteen? Wow! You must be incredibly smart!"
"W-well um… I am a science prodigy, I graduated High School at thirteen…"
"You're a science prodigy and you graduated at thirteen! Wow, you must be a genius!"
"I-I wouldn't go far to see genius, just… being really good at science."
"Well I still say it's impressive!"
I went back to finish unpacking my things. I wasn't so sure. Everyone, except my parents and Cheyenne and Fungus, really thought so. No one likes getting showed up by someone younger than them. I learned that through the multiple beatings I got in my school days.
"Okay, unpack, check, hang posters, check, now all I need to do is ace my glasses, graduate with honors and become the greatest Scarer ever!"
"Boy I wish I had you're confidence Mike, aren't you nervous?"
"Actually no." He picked up his hat. "I've been waiting for this my whole life." He went over to the window. "I just can't wait to get started."
I nodded. He had so much confidence in himself. I wish I had that. He went back over to his bed.
"Well Randy, we better get to bed, we have a long day of learning tomorrow."
"I totally agree with you Mike. But first let me call my parents. I promised them I'd call them every night before I go to bed."
"Hard for them to let you go?"
"Well… they're a little overprotective of me, and I don't want them to worry."
"Gotcha. I'll leave you to it then. Night Randy."
"Night Mike."
I smiled to myself. My first friend here in college. I couldn't believe it. Maybe things were finally going to chance for me. And I couldn't wait to discover the new me."
Mike buried his head in his hands as everyone looked at him.
"You were Randall's college roommate?" Luckey asked.
"I didn't know I'd be working with him in the future. Glob…"
Randall was in the basement crying. He hated crying. He had cried so much as a child that he had been teased for it by his cousins, that he had learned to loathe it. He thought it was weak. And from how much he did it as a child, he just thought that it was unnatural for someone like him to keep doing it. He had purposely sat himself next to the machine that he had built. The most obvious place people would look for him was in the restroom in the stalls. He didn't want that. He just wanted to be shrouded in darkness.
"Randall?" Fungus called.
Randall pulled himself closer to the wall next to the machine, not noticing that his tail was sticking out. As Fungus went to step farther into their secret work area, he ended up stepping on Randall's tail, causing the lizard monster to cry out in pain and unblend himself. Fungus jumped, but managed to calm down. He went over and looked under to see him.
"Randall?" He lowered himself to the ground and pulled himself closer to sit next to him. "N-nice hang out. M-mind if I-I-I join?"
Randall shook his head as he curled into a ball, staring at the ground.
"I-I can see why you like it down here so much. Smooth concrete floors, darkness, i-it's nice down here."
"Stop trying to cheer me up Funk. It's not helping."
"Randall… why didn't you tell me and Cheyenne that you were… you know… what your biological parents did to you?"
"Why do you care? Everyone just hates me. They don't care how I'm treated!"
"We care. Your parents care. We care about you Randy. We always have."
Randall looked over at him with tears in his eyes. He suddenly wrapped his arms around the smaller monster and sobbed to his heart content. Fungus shushed him gently, stroking his fronds back. He whispered softly in his ears to sooth the upset reptile. Finally the lizard monster confided in his friend. Explaining his feelings, his thoughts, his frustrations, everything that brought him to this point. The smaller monster nodded, allowing him to do so.
"I know Randy, I know."
After getting everything out in the open, the lizard monster laid his head on Fungus' lap, emotional drained.
"Do we have to go back…?" he asked after a long moment of silence.
"We don't have to if you don't want to."
A sigh.
"Might as well get over with."
Notes:
Poor Randall. He's discovered that the others are reading his journal and he is furious! Our poor reptile has a lot to unpack.
But that leaves everyone even more confused. They knew that Randall had a tough childhood, but just how bad was it? Well, they had even more to get through and learn.
So there we are!
Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter!
